Democracy Docket · [email protected]

June 4, 2025 at 4:24 PM

NEW: How national Republicans helped gerrymander maps in Tarrant County, Texas

NEW: How national Republicans helped gerrymander maps in Tarrant County, Texas Today at Democracy Docket, we’re publishing a package on a story you likely haven’t heard a lot about from the national media. The Republicans who run Tarrant County, Texas, have passed a new gerrymandered dis…

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June 4, 2025 at 11:03 AM

A prominent Arizona election denier says he briefed the White House on election integrity

A prominent Arizona election denier says he briefed the White House on election integrity Seth Keshel, a former Army intelligence captain who has promoted some of the most outlandish false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, wrote that he was recently invited to the White House …

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June 3, 2025 at 10:03 PM

Musk left the White House. What does that mean for DOGE?

Musk left the White House. What does that mean for DOGE? After spending around nearly $300M to help get Trump elected, billionaire Elon Musk’s tumultuous time in the government has come to an end. But the numerous lawsuits hailed against him and DOGE  over the last 130 days may not be go…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

June 3, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Don’t be fooled by Trump’s alleged break with the Federalist Society

Don’t be fooled by Trump’s alleged break with the Federalist Society The sudden falling out between Donald Trump and the Federalist Society is a ruse. Don’t be fooled. Trump is doing what he always does: creating a permission structure within the GOP to seize power and undermine the rule…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

June 2, 2025 at 10:02 PM

DOJ’s new top voting lawyer worked for leading anti-voting law firm

DOJ’s new top voting lawyer worked for leading anti-voting law firm The DOJ's new top voting lawyer previously worked for an anti-voting legal group and has appeared with the prominent election denier Cleta Mitchell, according to a Democracy Docket exclusive. The appointment highlights t…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

June 2, 2025 at 5:02 PM

A short weekend ahead of a long week

A short weekend ahead of a long week Recently, weeks have inverted in the legal world. The days have been steady, even sometimes quiet. Then, on Friday afternoon, we received a torrent of court opinions and orders. Even the administration has been at its most outrageous heading into and …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

June 1, 2025 at 1:01 PM

The Department of Injustice

The Department of Injustice The Department of Justice no longer represents the best interests of the American people. Under Bondi, it has been transformed into little more than a cog in the authoritarian machine doing Donald Trump’s bidding. It has abandoned independent judgment and feal…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 31, 2025 at 11:03 AM

The end of Elon’s government inefficiency

The end of Elon’s government inefficiency Elon Musk came into the administration with a bang and left four months later with barely a whimper. His mission, on paper, was to make the government better and more responsive. He failed on both fronts. In the end, there was nothing efficient a…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 30, 2025 at 10:02 PM

The fight for a pro-democracy agenda continues

The fight for a pro-democracy agenda continues Trump is a grave threat to our freedom and the rule of law. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) sat down with Marc to discuss the GOP’s threat to his district, the importance of passing the SAFE Act, and how to expand our pro-democracy agenda. …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 30, 2025 at 6:02 PM

DOJ doesn’t win anymore

DOJ doesn’t win anymore Trump’s Department of Justice is floundering. We knew that Trump and his DOJ were losing a lot of cases in court, but the actual numbers are still shocking. According to Adam Bonica, a professor of political science at Stanford, the administration lost 96% of ruli…

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May 30, 2025 at 11:09 AM

The GOP targets North Carolina

The GOP targets North Carolina Some alarming cases signal Republicans are laying the groundwork to undermine future elections in North Carolina. Friday, May 30 View in browser For $2.50/week, unlock the ki…

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May 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Trump’s stunning streak of losses

Trump’s stunning streak of losses The Trump administration has lost a shocking 96% of rulings in federal district courts so far this month, a new analysis shows. The rulings against the president came from judges across the ideological spectrum. Thursday, May 29 Vi…

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May 29, 2025 at 11:02 AM

SCOTUS set to gift Trump even more power

SCOTUS set to gift Trump even more power In allowing the president to fire two members of independent federal boards, the Supreme Court’s GOP-appointed majority signaled it intends to hollow out a 90-year-old precedent that protects independent agencies from control by the White House. …

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May 28, 2025 at 10:01 PM

Judge says Musk must face lawsuit over his role in DOGE

Judge says Musk must face lawsuit over his role in DOGE A federal judge greenlit lawsuits challenging Elon Musk’s position in the federal government and DOGE as unconstitutional, finding that the faux-agency’s efforts to slash the government likely violate the Constitution. …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 28, 2025 at 3:05 PM

JD Vance and the gospel of unchecked power

JD Vance and the gospel of unchecked power JD Vance is a lot of things: Donald Trump’s loyal lap dog, an observant Catholic and a Yale-trained lawyer. During his recent interview with the conservative columnist Ross Douthat, the vice president made clear those are in descending order of …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 28, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Ed Martin was too extreme for GOP senators. Now he’s at DOJ, targeting Trump’s enemies

Ed Martin was too extreme for GOP senators. Now he’s at DOJ, targeting Trump’s enemies Ed Martin, Jr. — President Donald Trump’s original nominee for U.S. Attorney for D.C., was too extreme to get through the GOP-controlled Senate. So now, Martin is at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ…

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May 27, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Judge rips Trump administration over failure to give deportees due process

Judge rips Trump administration over failure to give deportees due process A judge criticized Trump's “mischaracterization” of his order blocking the deportation of men to South Sudan, saying the administration is “manufacturing the very chaos they decry.” View in browse…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM

“Never wrestle with pigs”

“Never wrestle with pigs” It has been two months since Brad Karp, the Chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, sent an email to his law firm explaining his reasoning for capitulating to Donald Trump’s demands. Someday, universities will devote entire business and law cla…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 25, 2025 at 11:02 AM

In memory of Bode: The best dog ever

In memory of Bode: The best dog ever My loyal companion Bode passed away on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from canine lymphoma — just one month shy of his ninth birthday. I know everyone thinks their dog is the best but Bode truly was the best dog ever. View in browser …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM

The media’s original sin

The media’s original sin One of the remnants of having grown up in New York in the 1980s is my continued addiction to reading the New York Post. Yes, it’s a tabloid. Yes, it has become a purveyor of right-wing propaganda. But reading it remains part of my daily routine. V…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 23, 2025 at 10:02 PM

DOJ accelerates hunt for voter fraud — with help from DOGE

DOJ accelerates hunt for voter fraud — with help from DOGE In a recent appearance on a right-wing podcast, Antonio Cracias, a billionaire investor and a top ally of Elon Musk, said the DOJ asked DOGE to find “10-20 cases” of alleged noncitizen voting in every state. View …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM

This week’s monsters and morons

This week’s monsters and morons Earlier this week, I found myself repeatedly asking whether Trump and his enablers were diabolically evil or just unbelievably ignorant and stupid. As I end the week, I am left wondering if it even matters. View in browser …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Florida’s fight over direct democracy

Dismantling the DOJ Voters are suing to stop a Florida law that makes it harder to participate in the  ballot initiative process. View in browser Friday, May 23 The mainstream press plays both sides — we play on …

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May 22, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Federal judge blocks Trump bid to dissolve Education Department

Federal judge blocks Trump bid to dissolve Education Department In a rebuke to President Donald Trump’s plan to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, a federal judge blocked the illegal attempt to bypass Congress and strip away critical services for students across the country. …

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May 22, 2025 at 11:16 AM

Trump’s DOJ gearing up to prosecute political opponents

Trump’s DOJ gearing up to prosecute political opponents A dangerous new Justice Department proposal would scrap long-standing rules to prevent political prosecutions of candidates and other political figures — furthering Trump’s bid to turn the DOJ into a tool of retribution. …

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May 21, 2025 at 10:41 PM

New Republican target: Mail ballot grace periods

New Republican target: Mail ballot grace periods Trump and the GOP have launched a new offensive in their long-running war on voting. Their latest target? Ballots that were postmarked by Election Day, but arrive after. View in browser …

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May 21, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Listen: Election denier Tina Peters shares conspiracies in voicemail from prison

Listen: Election denier Tina Peters shares conspiracies in voicemail from prison When former Mesa County clerk-turned-MAGA-hero Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison by Colorado District Judge Matthew Barrett last October, he had some harsh words for her. “Your lies are well d…

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May 20, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Trump administration charges congresswoman over ICE oversight visit

Trump administration charges congresswoman over ICE oversight visit Federal prosecutors announced charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) over a clash between lawmakers and ICE agents at a detention center near Newark earlier this month. View in browser …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM

The political prosecution of Rep. McIver is just the beginning

The political prosecution of Rep. McIver is just the beginning The weaponization of our government has officially begun. Ever since he won the 2024 election, I have predicted that it was only a matter of time before Donald Trump used the full powers of the federal government to target his…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 19, 2025 at 10:03 PM

Victory in Michigan and against DOGE

Victory in Michigan and against DOGE SCOTUS declined to take a case from Michigan GOP lawmakers who used the radical independent state legislature theory to challenge two voter-approved pro-voting amendments to the Michigan Constitution. View in browser …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 19, 2025 at 4:32 PM

Democracy’s survival depends on our willingness to fight

Democracy’s survival depends on our willingness to fight Trump wants to be a dictator, and not just for one day. Since he stepped back into the Oval Office, nearly every day brings new examples of Trump’s commitment to authoritarianism and obsession with election denialism and subversion.…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 17, 2025 at 11:01 AM

Weekend reading list: Fair fighting in Georgia

Weekend reading list: Fair fighting in Georgia This week began with the news that Donald Trump planned to accept a $400 million dollar luxury jet from Qatar, and it ended with the Supreme Court ruling 7-2 against his efforts to send migrants to foreign gulags without due process. As Repu…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 16, 2025 at 10:03 PM

SCOTUS says Trump violated Venezuelan migrants’ rights with attempted removals

SCOTUS says Trump violated Venezuelan migrants’ rights with attempted removals The Supreme Court in a 7-2 ruling Friday said the Trump administration violated the due process rights of Venezuelan migrants in its rushed effort to remove them from the U.S. last month using the Alien Enemies…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM

A frustrating week for democracy

A frustrating week for democracy This week, frustrations were boiling over in politics and court. Republicans in Congress were frustrated with each other for failing to pass a budget bill. Democrats were frustrated that the GOP is intent on cutting taxes for billionaires and services for …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 16, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Dismantling the DOJ

Dismantling the DOJ Only an estimated three attorneys are left on the team that enforces U.S. voting rights law. The DOJ is still involved in at least 29 voting rights or redistricting cases across 18 states, according to Democracy Docket’s litigation tracker. View in bro…

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May 15, 2025 at 10:03 PM

SCOTUS mulls limiting judges’ authority to block Trump’s power grab

SCOTUS mulls limiting judges’ authority to block Trump’s power grab SCOTUS heard oral argument in the birthright citizenship case that could greatly limit federal judges' ability to block Trump from expanding presidential powers. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson described the government's st…

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May 15, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Trump’s power grab is metastasizing

Trump’s power grab is metastasizing Trump is attempting to assert control over Congress by taking over its library. By firing the librarian of Congress and installing his former defense lawyer in her place, Trump may be asserting that the Library of Congress is part of the executive branc…

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May 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM

New ruling cuts off key tool to protect minority voters

New ruling cuts off key tool to protect minority voters The 8th Circuit severed a key avenue for private groups and individuals to bring racial discrimination claims under the Voting Rights Act, further weakening the landmark law’s ability to protect voters across seven states. …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM

Why you’ve been hearing from me more often

Why you’ve been hearing from me more often You may have noticed that you’ve been hearing from me a lot lately. In the past seven days, I’ve written something for Democracy Docket every single day. That wasn’t my plan. Back in 2020, I was a lawyer fighting for voting rights and democracy i…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Right-wing groups are reigniting their anti-voting efforts

Right-wing groups are reigniting their anti-voting efforts Throughout the 2024 election season, a host of right-wing anti-voting groups worked tirelessly to disenfranchise voters. The groups spread disinformation about noncitizen voting, rehashed familiar conspiracy theories about mass vo…

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May 13, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Judges could crack down on anti-voting group’s mass voter challenges 

Judges could crack down on anti-voting group’s mass voter challenges At a hearing today, a federal appeals court appeared open to protecting voters by reversing a lower court ruling that dismissed a pro-voting lawsuit targeting mass voter challenges in Georgia. View in b…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM

5 reasons why law firm deals with Trump may damage their businesses

5 reasons why law firm deals with Trump may damage their businesses It has been two months since Donald Trump began targeting law firms with illegal and unconstitutional executive orders. My former law firm, Perkins Coie, was the first to be targeted on March 6. Six days later, a federal …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 12, 2025 at 10:29 PM

Corrected: DOJ voting section has just three lawyers left, watchdog estimates

DOJ voting section has just three lawyers left, watchdog estimates The number of attorneys in the DOJ’s voting section dropped from 30 to three, according to one group’s estimate provided to Democracy Docket. It came amid reports that the department will no longer work to protect voting r…

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May 12, 2025 at 10:02 PM

DOJ has just three lawyers left, watchdog estimates

DOJ has just three lawyers left, watchdog estimates The number of attorneys in the DOJ’s voting section dropped from 30 to three, according to one group’s estimate provided to Democracy Docket. It came amid reports that the department will no longer work to protect voting rights. …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM

Will the Supreme Court rein in Trump’s excesses? Here’s my answer.

Will the Supreme Court rein in Trump’s excesses? Here’s my answer. I know I promised I wouldn’t send you emails on Mondays unless there was news, but there was something I was thinking about all weekend that I wanted to share. Shortly after Donald Trump took office, someone asked me if th…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM

Justice Sotomayor’s message to lawyers: Stand up, fight and win

Judge’s footnote and warning to Trump’s Big Law collaborators Justice Sonia Sotomayor is not one to hide her feelings. A plainspoken New Yorker, she is known as a tough questioner who challenges lawyers who appear before the Supreme Court on their assumptions and the consequences of the l…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 10, 2025 at 11:02 AM

6 lawsuits you should know about

6 lawsuits you should know about Once again Trump’s latest outrages dominated the news this week. Add in the selection of a new Pope, and there was little room for much else. Yet, across the country, there were six new lawsuits filed to protect voters. Most of which were brought in states…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 9, 2025 at 10:01 PM

Trump administration proposes more drastic election security cuts

Trump administration proposes more drastic election security cuts The Trump administration introduced a new budget proposal calling for a near $500 million cut to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the nation’s top federal entity responsible for protecting elections fro…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

May 9, 2025 at 5:31 PM

Republicans had a terrible week in court

Republicans had a terrible week in court Last Friday, Republicans suffered two major legal defeats in Pennsylvania. A trial court dismissed a right-wing lawsuit seeking to purge hundreds of thousands of voters, while the Third Circuit rejected a motion to block a lower court’s decision re…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

May 9, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Unpacking the big win for voters in North Carolina

Unpacking the big win for voters in North Carolina After six agonizing months of legal pingponging between state and federal courts, the GOP bid to steal a North Carolina’s Supreme Court seat has failed. On Monday, a federal court ordered the state to certify Democratic Justice Allison Ri…

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